by W. Diane Van Zwol

Created on: August 28, 2008

Tips For Baby Boomers Going To College

If you are a baby boomer heading for college as a new student, this is the article for you! Here are ten tips for college students that may be of help.

1. Academic probation:

As a baby boomer, even though you have been out of school for some time, you may still be allowed to attend college. If you are told that you can enroll, but you will be placed on academic probation for the first six months, do not be alarmed. That simply means that the college has relatively high standards and they want to be certain that you, as an adult learner, are at an academic level where you can succeed. You may need to upgrade first, in order to qualify for entrance into certain courses. For example, you might need to do some upgrading in English, mathematics, or chemistry. Colleges welcome adult learners!

2. Consider becoming a part time student:

Since you probably have not taken any courses for a number of years, you may find it extremely difficult to take a full course load. Consider entering college as a part time student initially, rather than entering college as a full time student. You may be able to sit in on a class for a while, before you need to enroll in it. You can also take a course that is on an interest level, rather than one in which you have to do all the assignments, in order to receive a credit. This is a bit easier, if you are not certain about the academic direction that you want to go. You can also start with a course like pottery, flower arranging, or art classes. This is fun to take and you will enjoy learning some new skills. Let your creativity flow!

3. Purchase a laptop:

Purchase a laptop computer if possible. If you have a desk top computer at home, it may suffice, but a laptop computer is more convenient and you can take it to class. A printer is also a good investment. Depending upon what course you are taking, you may be able to work directly from home, rather than having to attend sessions in the college. Keep hard copies of everything that you are going to submit to your professors or instructors. You may be able to obtain your course outline online and take online tests. Find out if there is a computer network setup for the classroom, or if you are expected to operate your laptop with batteries. Learn where you can get technical support at a reasonable cost. The college will be able to give you appropriate guidelines for laptops.

4. Plan on upgrading your computer and computer skills first:

Spend some time upgrading

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